Leveraging Your Strengths For Effective Communication
When it comes to leadership, clear communication isn't just important; it's essential. It can be the difference between success and struggle.
Regardless of your unique leadership strengths, your ability to clearly communicate your expectations and goals, provide feedback on performance, and share your vision and strategy is vital.
While there are some basic principles everyone can follow, it's important to know that there's no one-size-fits-all way to be a great communicator as a leader. It's a skill that involves using your own strengths to your advantage. So, let's discuss why good communication matters in leadership and how knowing your strengths can help you do better in this area.
The Importance of Effective Communication in Leadership
When you have a diverse team, you bring together people with different goals, skills, backgrounds, and strengths. This diversity is valuable, but it needs good management.
As a leader, your main job is to engage and unite everyone toward a common goal. This doesn't mean making everyone the same but appreciating and using the different talents in your team effectively.
The first step in handling this mix of talents is effective communication. It links your team's actions to your organization's goals. When done well, it builds trust, teamwork, and motivation. And remember, communication isn't just talking; listening is just as important.
Key Principles of Effective Communication
Solve Problems Together: Work together with your team to solve problems. This creates open communication, helps fix issues, builds trust, empowers everyone's strengths, and increases the chances of getting everyone on board with the solution.
Listen Deeply: Listening is usually more important than talking. In coaching, we're taught Level 3 listening, which means not just listening to the words, but understanding the emotions and subtleties underlying them. It's not easy to do all the time, but try it in meetings or during important, difficult, or appreciative conversations. Ask open questions and listen carefully.
Practice Empathy: David Pink, a former political speechwriter turned New York Times bestselling author on topics such as business, work, creativity, and behavior, recommends a psychological technique when practicing empathy. He suggests that leaders should metaphorically dial down their sense of power to access empathy when working with their team members. Feeling too powerful can hinder your ability to truly listen and understand what your team is saying. By recognizing that you need your team's help and acknowledging their unique knowledge and skills, you can better focus on empathizing and listening attentively.
Embrace Conflict: It's okay to have disagreements within the team as long as they're respectful and help the team find better solutions. Conflict, when handled with respect and a clear purpose, can lead to better decisions and innovative solutions. In a team where everyone is working towards the same goal, conflicts, when managed appropriately, become a tool for refining ideas and enhancing teamwork rather than something to fear.
Seek Feedback: Regularly ask your team for their input on your communication style. Understand what's working well and where you can improve. Your willingness to learn and adapt shows your commitment to their success.
How Your Strengths Impact Communication
Every team member and leader possesses unique strengths, and because no two individuals share the exact same set of strengths, their communication styles also differ. The strengths you have play a significant role in shaping how you communicate with your team. Therefore, the first step towards improving your communication skills is to gain a thorough understanding of these personal strengths. This understanding is crucial for tailoring your communication approach in a way that aligns with your natural abilities and resonates effectively with your team.
Identifying Your Strengths
To get started, take the CliftonStrengths Assessment. The assessment will reveal your top talents and dominant Talent Domain. Once you know your dominant Talent Domain, you have a starting point for how to communicate with your team:
Executing: Your typical way of communicating is likely clear, practical, and goal-oriented. To maintain motivation and a results-driven approach, make sure to track progress, involve the team in solving issues, and celebrate successes.
Influencing: You tend to rely on charisma and enthusiasm to inspire and motivate your team. Share your vision with genuine passion and actively involve your team by soliciting their input and seeking their support. Keep an open mind for feedback and opportunities for collaboration.
Relationship Building: Your communication style is likely warm and genuine. Embrace your skill in building strong connections. Connect individually with each team member, demonstrate empathy and active listening, and foster an environment of open and honest conversations.
Strategic Thinking: Your communication style likely leans toward either gathering or sharing information. Use your strong big-picture thinking and problem-solving skills. Clearly express your vision and long-term goals, foster open discussions, and practice patience when others contribute their ideas.
Consider Your Team Members' Communication Needs
Not everyone on your team communicates in the same way. Some prefer clear and quick instructions, while others like more details. Recognizing your team members' unique communication styles is vital. Here are tips for communicating with your team members based on their dominant Talent Domain:
Executing: Communicate your expectations clearly, specifying the tasks and deadlines. Emphasize concrete, action-oriented instructions, offer consistent feedback, and engage them in hands-on problem-solving.
Influencing: Discuss how the team's reputation and reach will be impacted by the topic of your conversation. Offer opportunities for them to lead in presentations or projects that demand persuasion and motivation.
Relationship Building: Highlight the individuals who will be impacted or involved in the subject of your discussion. Be authentic and attentive, taking the time to hear their ideas and address their concerns, while recognizing their contribution to team cohesion. Create chances for team-building activities.
Strategic Thinking: Supply data, resources, and the rationale behind decisions and requests. Foster their engagement by inviting them to contribute insights and ideas regarding the team's goals and projects. Encourage participation in brainstorming sessions and strategic planning discussions.
Combining Strengths for Enhanced Communication
Now, think about how your communication style, informed by the Talent Domain you lead with, can be used to meet your team's communication needs:
If your signature strength is Executing and you're communicating with a team member who excels in Relationship Building, emphasize how completing their tasks and achieving their goals will enhance colleague relationships and positively impact customers, students, or consumers.
If your signature strength is Influencing and you're communicating with a team member that leads with Strategic Thinking, Incorporate the data, sources, and information that support the people, projects, and ideas you are endorsing.
In summary, effective communication in leadership isn't one-size-fits-all. It's about knowing your strengths and using them to become a better leader. Discover your strengths, use them intentionally when you communicate, and put your unique qualities to work – whether it's inspiring, problem-solving, empathizing, or listening. By using your strengths, you'll become a stronger leader and guide your team to success.
Ready to discover your strengths? Take the CliftonStrengths Assessment now!
